Su, 〈Kevin, do you see? People of this civilization have their own choices. As forerunners, we can't presumptuously make choices on their behalf.〉
Kevin, 〈...〉
------------------------------
[Another memory surfaced. At that time, he was fully absorbed in researching a special medicine to treat the Black Death. Kallen stood quietly by his side, her eyes filled with emotion, truly delighted that she had not misjudged him.
Otto fell silent for a moment, then softly said "thank you." Soon after, he subtly shifted the topic, asking Kallen if she still planned to "take action" tonight.
Kallen nodded lightly, then waved her hand, signaling Otto to focus on his own matters, saying she was already well-practiced and that he need not worry.
The curtain of memory slowly fell, and Void Archives spoke up, his face full of confusion,
"I really don't understand. Why were you being so awkward back then? Wouldn't it have been better to just tell her everything you thought? History itself might have changed because of that."
Otto, upon hearing this, only felt that Void Archives' thoughts were laughably naive, "Perhaps. But what exactly would you have wanted me to tell her back then? That I was experimenting with new medicine through human trials?"
"Or do you want me to cite political and economic theories from centuries later to enlighten her that 'robbing the rich to help the poor doesn't solve the fundamental problem'?"
"If not those... then even if I plainly told her the reasons for everything I did, what use would it have been?"
"Would it be her who changed because of that, or me who changed?"
Void Archives paused, then said, "...But in fact, neither of you changed the other."
Otto calmly responded, "Of course. Because back then I stubbornly believed that the way I was, I had more ways to secretly protect her."
Void Archives mocked him, "Heh, she was Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, and you thought at that time you could protect her with your own power?"
Otto answered with composure, "After all, back then I believed my knowledge and her strength complemented each other. I always wanted to fill in her shortcomings in my own way."
Void Archives could not understand, "Strange. How could someone like you, weak and sickly since childhood, regard yourself so highly in this matter?"]
Einstein, 〈Hmm... from the above dialogue, one can deduce that Otto, believing he could help Kallen with his intellect, revealed a sense of pride and arrogance.〉
Bronya, 〈When Kiana is by Bronya's side, Bronya also feels a strong sense of superiority in intellect.〉
Kiana, 〈...Bronya!!!〉
Kallen, 〈So Otto thinks I'm stupid?〉
[Miss Lily]Otto, 〈Absolutely not (I did not), this is all their groundless speculation (they're talking nonsense), I reserve the right to pursue legal responsibility! (This is a lawyer's letter warning).〉
Kallen's eyes shone with a hint of curiosity as she softly asked, 〈Uh, Otto, then in your eyes, what exactly am I like?〉
Otto's gaze instantly softened, his tone sincere, and he slowly said, 〈Pure, kind, brave... even these words are far from enough to describe even a fraction of you, Kallen.〉
Otto couldn't help but let poetry flow from his lips, reciting with deep affection,
〈Kallen, in my eyes, you are like the purest moonlight in the night sky, casting a light of ultimate goodness and truth in humanity, untouched by worldly dust.
That kindness and sincerity of yours are like the crystal-clear mountain stream, flowing endlessly, nourishing every moment of time.
Your courage in pursuing justice and fairness is like a sharp blade, cutting through the darkness of the unknown.
Even when the path ahead is filled with thorns and dangers, you can still walk forward with your head held high, never once retreating.
To me, you are the most dazzling treasure of my life, an eternal lighthouse in the dark ocean.
Amid the waves of confusion, you illuminate my course forward, guiding me toward the shores of light.
Ah~ Praise Kallen!〉
(The pure and beautiful one next door quietly gave a thumbs up.)
Kallen, her face completely red, hurriedly stopped Otto from continuing, 〈.....Alright, I understand, stop saying more.〉
[Magical Girl]Theresa, 〈As expected of Grandpa!〉
Elysia, 〈What a romantic praise, hmm~?〉
Fu Shi, 〈Otto, did you sneak online? Otherwise, how could you come up with such long cheesy words in such a short time!〉
Fu Lin, "Who cares, just follow me and say it, Ah~ Praise Kallen!"
Kallen, 〈Mr. Fu Lin, even you...〉
Yae Sakura, 〈Ah~ Praise Kallen!〉
Everyone, 〈Ah~ Praise Kallen!〉
Kallen, 〈Why is everyone like this!〉
Fu Lin, "Ehehe~"
[Void Archives continued, "History has already proven that back then you could do nothing."]
Fu Lin gasped sharply, then half-joked, "Password correct, account correct, but unfortunately yours is a potato server, lagging for five hundred years before you could log in."
[Miss Lily]Otto stayed silent, expressing only 〈...〉 as his state of mind.
Kiana pondered, 〈Hiss... could it be that 'I can do nothing' is actually the password to becoming stronger?〉
Fu Shi quickly agreed, 〈You're right, it really is the strength password. Mei☆ knows it well, she said it the most, and I lost to Kiana☆ back then only because I got the password wrong!〉
Mei☆, 〈...〉
[Shenzhou Tablet]Fu Hua looked on with a gentle smile, 〈...So you blame losing to Kiana☆ on saying "I can do everything"?〉
Fu Shi crossed his arms at his waist, looking unconvinced, 〈Isn't that right?〉
In the live chat, Kiana☆ rolled her eyes helplessly, too lazy to argue with Fu Shi's inexplicable obsession.
[Void Archives, "You even accelerated her break from her original environment, and the price was ultimately her life."
Under Void Archives' sharp words, our Bishop Otto seemed about to break apart, his calm voice tinged with loneliness and sorrow, "...Yes. That day she finally discovered the true darkness of Schicksal. From then on, the trajectory of our lives spun out of control."
Otto continued walking forward. And the next memory was his life's most foolish judgment, one that led to the tragedy he spent his entire life trying to undo.
When the memory ended, Void Archives spoke with a tone of jealousy mixed with envy, "You know, Otto... sometimes I really envy your sister."
Void Archives' voice grew agitated, "I painstakingly set so many traps big and small for you, and you never once stepped in, but she just handed you a shovel, and somehow you managed to dig yourself a grave!"
...
After a bout of conversation, Otto and Void Archives both fell into mutual silence, and could only continue walking forward.]
Void Archives, 〈Tsk, so everything is my fault, huh? Is this the real reason you've kept me bound for over five hundred years?〉
[Miss Lily]Otto, 〈Heh..... who knows? Anyway, everything has already passed, hasn't it? My Kallen has been resurrected, and you, my friend, will continue to be bound by me.〉
Void Archives, 〈Otto, you son of a-〉
Kallen, 〈So that day's Honkai Beast was released by you, Otto? How could you sacrifice the lives of other innocents!〉